Celtic Diary Wednesday March 6: More Power to The Shields

Chris MacLaughlin, the BBC reporter banned from Ibrox for attempting to tell it like it is, a breach of company policy in itself, presented a report last night that claimed one of Scotlands clubs hasn’t had a safety certificate for its stadium for nineteen years.

Nineteen years.

That means its quite likely that you or I have attended a sporting event that took place at a venue that the local authorities have not seen fit to deem suitably safe for such a purpose.

We can rule out Ibrox , of course. The club there has only been in existence for seven years so it cannot possibly be them.

So who is it ?

In fact, a number of questions arise from this revelation.

Firstly, why on a matter of public safety , is a public broadcaster not allowed to say which club it is ?

And who told them not to say it ? And why did they agree to their demand?

It’s not enough to say that a stadium isn’t fit for purpose, which merely sounds like a piss poor attempt to avoid future litigation in the event of a tragedy, because quite simply a public broadcaster by definition must inform the public of anything that is in their interest.

And i would wager that the possibility of being killed or injured at a sporting event due to a lack of proper safety rules and regulations being adhered to and officially approved would be in the public interest.

Its certainly in mine. Maclaughlin ventured timidly into what is acutally a serious failing on the part of the authorities..

Concerns over the issuing of safety certificates have been raised by the Football Stadium Officers Association (FSOA).

A FSOA spokesperson said: “We identified a lack of consistency among local authorities in the discharge of their responsibilities as to the licensing of stadiums – specifically the issue of safety certificates.

“We have raised these concerns with the Scottish government, Cosla and the relevant football authorities.”

Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (Cosla) president Alison Evison said the body takes the licensing of stadiums “very seriously”.

She continued: “We have a strong record of safety on football events activity.

“Scotland’s councils engage with partners to ensure the protection of our local communities who attend football matches and other events across the country.

“We treat our community safety role with high priority.

“Going forward if there are improvements identified of course local government and Cosla will work positively with partners to find solutions.”

May I suggest an alternative solution ?

How about someone telling us which ground isn’t safe enough for us to attend ?

It seems Ms Evison takes the licensing of stadia- I’ll help MacLaughlin with his grammar- but not actually the safety of those inside them.

MacLaughlin appears to have an advance copy of the thorough investigation held by Police Scotland into, er policing at football matches.

At the Celtic-“rangers ” game last year, the police introduced new entrance and exit points, which appeared to cause confusion among fans..

Instead of opting for the traditional and more commonly used technique of using gates to pass between solid objects, supporters were forced to use their own initiative to exit safely, and the police immediately announced they would ask each other why it didn’t work.

The report is out later today…but I’ve got a sneak preview as well… I’ll just give you a couple of the key phrases to look for..

“Mistakes were made on all sides ”

“Lessons have been learned ”

“We will look earnestly into what we can do to prevent a recurrence ”

Celtic , of course, commisioned a report onto the Janefield Underpass chaos themselves, which seems to be lost in the post somewhere.

One hopes that they aren’t awaiting the outcome of the police report to make sure they’ve got their story straight..

In the meantime, ring or email your local authority. Ask them for written confirmation that the grounds in your area are up to date with their safety certificates.

They cannot be allowed to sweep this under the carpet. Something is badly wrong with an industry that is knowingly selling a dangerous product, and there’s something badly wrong when local authorities and public broadcasters are covering it up.

For nineteen years…

If its not fan safety its sectarianism, the word politicians use to describe any public order or discriminatory act they they can’t be arsed doing anything about. In case they are deemed to be, er , sectarian.

Its left to the media and others to offer their usual solutions to a problem that they actually encourage as it sells their rags.

The usual suspects offer the usual answers to questions that they daren’t actually ask anyone who could do something about it, largely because they know they won;t get an answer.

High on the list of suggestions is to end what they term “Apartheid Schools “, claiming that separating children from their pals at the age of five fosters the divisions that in later life explode into violence , hatred and intolerance on the streets.

Ignoring the fact that it doesn’t happen anywhere else in the Christian world, those who may be deemed perfectly intelligent in their normal day to day lives are convinced that Billy and Declan, who presumably live side by side on one of Scotlands innovative multi cultural housing estates , would have been the bestest of pals had one of them not been forced into religious indoctrination at an early age.

Their solution ?

Close the catholic schools.

Their reasoning ?

Actually, reasoning doesn’t come into it. Not in the slightest. Not now, not ever.

The real reason ?

I think you can still buy that t shirt on here somewhere. And I think you should.

And please, let me know if you get arrested for a hate crime.

Probably by someone who didn’t go to a catholic school.

Then there’s the issue of violence in stadia ( Look, MacLaughlin, the correct plural, but then again, I went to a catholic school.) towards players.

Scott Sinclair has yet to be asked by anyone in the media why he feels he’s been a target on sevral occasions of opposing fans..

Sinclair, a family man, happens to be black.

Could that possibly be the reason ?

Are the media afraid to ask him not because they are afraid of the question, but that they are afraid of the answer ?

Sinclair is a family man, married to a tv star. He’s a high profile footballer north and south of the border, playing at a high profile football club. He’s used to the limelight and the attention, but in Scotland some of that attention has a nasty edge to it..

His homelife and preference for privacy removes the “he brings it on himself ” tag…which leaves only one conclusion.

Surely the media are not deflecting from a serious issue here ?

Its a very small jump from “sectarianism “which sells papers, to racism, which doesn’t sell anything, and more importantly would see sponsors and tv companies drop Scottish football quicker than an EBT from the club accounts.

When the papers talk about sectarianism, they are hiding a much more serious issue, by simply making up a word for it.

When the police investigate crowd safety, they are investigating their own safety, and their own accountability.

And the clubs ? Well, they don’t give a toss..

Hibernian said they’re ever so sorry but the tellymonitors at Easter Road are just as fucking useless as the stewards, and so they haven’t actually got footage of the person who threw the bottle at Scott Sinclair.

Can @ScottishFA confirm any follow up action to be taken for poor stewarding, policing and monitoring

Or do we all just move on nothing to see here…

That would be “c”, and we don;t need to phone a friend.

The football supporter is used by everyone as an excuse to do what they want.

One and a half per cent of the Scottish public attend matches on a regular basis, a higher proportion than anywhere else in Europe.

Yet those who are paid to protect us and to ensure a safe environment repeatedly blame us, the customer, for their own failings.

My hope is that the report commissioned by Celtic into the Janefield Near Tragedy is truthful, and does not shirk from its responsibilities.

Then again, I hope for a lot of things…

It could all be so different…after all, who could be fail to be touched by news such as this ?

The players have had a wee break, the manager has had a wee look at Bayo, and now has a fair idea of how good he is.

You can’t blame Lennon for not including a guy he knows nothing about in the last couple of games.

Bayo is probably a little bit bewildered right now…he’s moved across Europe , on the recommendation of two guys who couldn’t wait to get out of the door.

More broken promises, and more proof that someone had only his own best interests at heart when he he said he had ours.

Really, does anyone think any of our players are stupid enough to fall for the Rodgers Routine twice ?

Some of you may have recognised this story yesterday..

Derek Crothers initially penned the artcile on here “Inside the World of Scottish Refereeing “, which was subsequently picked up as not being about Resolution 12 and carried forward into the national media.

Derek deserves praise for coming out and saying what all of us have been thinking, and one hopes further debate is taken to a wider stage.

Its another brick taken out of the wall of corruption that surrounds Scottish football.

Great article and great to see the refs story spreading. I hope it’s ok Ralph, I told the Scottish Football Supporters Association about it and they asked for a link to the article which I didn’t know how to do so copied and sent them the article. Hope that was ok.

Caption: Don’t care how many tanning salon coupons you offer me, I’m not taking you to Leicester.

mcklintopMarch 6, 2019 at 9:20 am ·

Caption: Boss that’s the Dallas Cowboys on the phone. Are we needing any quarterbacks?

MikeMarch 6, 2019 at 9:23 am ·

“Bravo Bravo” I’ve been waiting for this one all night and so I can say in all honesty. “He shoots, this one WAS the winnaaar”.
Here’s a wee message for the Cosla president Alison Evison who said
“Scotland’s councils engage with partners to ensure the protection of our local communities. We treat our community safety role with high priority.” Well fucking do it and stop pandering to the Orange Order and stop the hate marchers walking the streets of the same local communities. Do we need to see them every week peddling hatred, OH that is culture but its the Kulture of the Klan and if you do not see that, then our communities will never be safe. If we can educate primary school youngsters about the new kinds of families, men with men, woman with woman trans with trans, surely we can educate them that Sectarianism is a form of hatred. Open and inclusive my arse.. open your eyes and walk the walk.

Charlie Saiz God Bless Neil LennonMarch 6, 2019 at 9:42 am ·

Caption
Bet Fred odds say there is as more chance of you winning the Knob of the week twice in a row as me keeping my job at Celtic your eminence

Caption.lee,get off those gay websites.when i asked you to check out some fit young players i meant at football,

5TBMarch 6, 2019 at 10:49 am ·

Caption

LC; Hold on Moussa, Brendan is next to me actually. He’s off boss, seemingly you’re a two faced big headed fanny. His words, not mine.

BR; Teeth bleaching at 11. Sun beds at 1. New portrait at 3….eh?

5TBMarch 6, 2019 at 11:05 am ·

Caption

LC; If I casually play with my cock through my trousers, just like Brendan is, will that make me look cool too?

jimmybeeMarch 6, 2019 at 11:06 am ·

Good diary another great one ?
yesterday was pish.:)
The BBC is now in the gutter with the likes of the daily ranger and the current bun.
The violence at Aberdeen wasnt sectarianism the violence against hibs wasnt sectarianism the stabbings of supporters of another club from Europe wasnt sectarianism. It has one common denominator the Klan.
The no Catholics allowed by the sfa since 1872 by a football club was. No action taken.
The fans murdered as they walked their way down the streets of Glasgow and Lanarkshire because they wore the green was.
The abuse the violence the bullets through the post to Neil Lennon and prominent Celtic supporters was sectarian and racist. The incidents involving Scott Sinclair are racist.
Yet we are as bad as them?
We must stop those who have brought disgusting songs in our name.
Clean up our act now and let them know it’s not us that has the problem its the hate you give.

Cartvale88March 6, 2019 at 11:15 am ·

Caption
I’ve got. U a part in Jesus Christ Superstar, oh great one

The constant deflection of all things Hunnsh is sad, OO does not cause hatred it is a cultural phenomena. The Evening Radger tried to claim yesterday that the majority of people in Glasgow like the walks, with a ridiculous survey. All sensible people should not buy these rags, as that allows their agenda to continue.
Only the pesky Irish/Catholics and their bloody schools cause sectarianism.

jimmybeeMarch 6, 2019 at 11:31 am ·

Great read this says it all really.
eurosport.co.uk/football/premi…

WeeredMarch 6, 2019 at 1:26 pm ·

jimmybee… That piece just about got thing right…

jimmybeeMarch 6, 2019 at 1:52 pm ·

Best article I’ve read on it weered. Hope you and yours are all well m8.

WeeredMarch 6, 2019 at 3:06 pm ·

jimmybee…all doing well… thanks for asking…
Yourself?

jimmybeeMarch 6, 2019 at 4:05 pm ·

All good m8 thank you

kevlarMarch 6, 2019 at 3:43 pm ·

i read this, and like you i think its the most accurate and best read regarding the whole sorry scenario that was BRs time at Parkhead. lies damn lies. great post Jimmybee

Charlie Saiz God Bless Neil LennonMarch 6, 2019 at 4:53 pm ·

Nailed it Jimmy

BuddiebhoyMarch 6, 2019 at 11:35 am ·

Do the police ever take thrown bottles for fingerprints?
Instead of ref picking it up and handing it to steward to render it useless for prints, leave it for police to lift and take prints.

jimmybeeMarch 7, 2019 at 12:32 pm ·

It’s probable been.passed around like a said book at school m8 no chance of finger prints anyway.

jimmybeeMarch 7, 2019 at 12:32 pm ·

Scud book that it is ^

Charlie SaizMarch 7, 2019 at 1:45 pm ·

The Beano,The Bunty or the bare arse Monthly?-The Big Yin

UraliusMarch 6, 2019 at 11:42 am ·

Caption: McTominay you say? I thought you were after Mcginn…..

BJFMarch 6, 2019 at 11:45 am ·

Caption “ Need to bring some of the fans in too, how much will Monti cost?”
Rumours Lenny wants to keep Boyata, how much would it cost us get a similar centre half in, one tho doesn’t know the club, Scottish football etc £5m? ( Believe mecghey all have a mistake in them.Really impressed with Lenny going to Forfar to see the “ reserves”, good attention to detail. I went to Forfar once, if you haven’t been that’s probably ok.Havent been to Peterborough, sent Ralph.

LC ” Right BRENDA you get LICKSTERSHIRE to Pony up the COMPO then I’ll agree with PL to go early if they pay up in full the rest of my Contract. Then we will Divi up 50/50 just like after the Sunderland gig.”
BR ” OK just be sure to ask them for a Loyalty bonus as well. Now if you don’t mind I’m still trying to see where it is that I’m supposed to put that Knob of the Week award that etims sent me.”

The COSLA president’s real name should be Alison Evasion.
What kind of protection and safety of the public allows hate marches by the O.O against Irish people, Catholic people and Celtic supporters. . . unless it suits your agenda.

Oh what a day, we blue them Huns far away,
Everything went our way,
The fuds in blue were in the stew,
By our Celtic play.
Oh what a day! Hamden, Hamden in the sun,
Celtic seven “Rangers one.

BJFMarch 6, 2019 at 2:55 pm ·

desimond: So you are to blame!

Puggy67March 6, 2019 at 4:05 pm ·

Caption: Boss the player’s an alumunus of the Ajax academy, I have the transfer datum required, but the medium I leaked it to sent a paparazzo. Do you want to roll the die or is the deal geesed, eh goosed?

Fuck’s sake Lee have you been reading ETims again?

The ChaMarch 6, 2019 at 4:26 pm ·

Caption “Boss, do you think they’ll still be putting up pictures of you over a week after you leave rather than the new manager?”. “Yes, they Just Can’t Get Enough”

Well she`s definitely no ordering Desimonds` t-shirt but the rumour is
you`re to auxiliary ETim T-shirts around Celtic Park.

Neil Luvs Dedryck. 🙂

This is how we`re to feel to be Celtic…
Dedryck Boyata`s here for 11 in a row and 12 in a row!

Can we witness Lennon and Keane at Celtic Park before all of us Da`s cark it?

Would be fun!

Bobby Murdoch’s Crumpled Up Chip WrapperMarch 6, 2019 at 7:00 pm ·

Caption

“I don’t even like football Brendan”

D'Fhinnein MickMarch 6, 2019 at 7:35 pm ·

Nice moniker.

UraliusMarch 6, 2019 at 7:28 pm ·

Caption: BR: I feel inadequate because you can ruin me with another Commper, that’s why I’m nervously holding my junk.
Lee: I’m holding my dick because after Commper you know I’m inadequate and won’t take me with you.

MikeMarch 6, 2019 at 7:44 pm ·

Ooops another ex referee speaks out backing Derek Crothers claims of nepotism, ineptitude and cronyism. “Guys like Dallas are making mistake after mistake, but nothing is done about it”, says former referee Charlie Richmond. As he backs Derek to appoint former referee Peter Walton to review and reform the SFA refereeing laughing stock balloons. Who needs to breath in laughing gas when these muppets are refereeing our games. Decisions are being made with no rhyme or reason, they alone know why they take the decisions that lets face it can win or lose games. And then sshhh its a secret, with never any explanation. Seven years ago Richmond went public to voice his concerns, so when one individual calls out the cronyism he can be called bitter, but when two sing the same song in public, you and the readers know that there is a problem and a big one at that. But back in his hoose in Lanarkshire John Fleming employs his deflector coat and hides behind the sofa and Maxwell goes into hiding, hoping the shit storm passes. And breathe, time now for the managers and players to add their voice to the throng of complaints…

MikeMarch 6, 2019 at 7:50 pm ·

Don’t sign these two players!

Fulham once had a player called Abdeslam Ouaddou, his nickname was “Seaside” as in Ouaddou like to be beside the seaside….. Or

The former Everton and Manchester City defender, Neil (disa) Pointon.

Puggy67March 6, 2019 at 7:56 pm ·

Mind when Celtic were in for a Dutch player called Shoppe and if he’d signed the midfield would have been Glavin, Burns, Shoppe. Allegedly…

MikeMarch 6, 2019 at 9:12 pm ·

In the Real Madrid verses Eintracht Frankfurt European cup final at Hamden in 1960 Eintracht had a player called Stinka, he scored one of Eintracht goals, apparently. Canny be worse than Rafal Schidte.

henkesdreadlocksMarch 7, 2019 at 10:01 am ·

Roberto Lopez Ufarte of Real Sociedad.

MikeMarch 7, 2019 at 10:37 am ·

I just knew, that you would come up with a Frank Carson, its a cracker… When are you gonny put your fingers into your sporran (after you remove the padlock) and buy me a drink? your like Peter Brady the invincible mahn..

henkesdreadlocksMarch 7, 2019 at 7:59 pm ·

We’ll need to meet up in the not too distant future Mike. I has been a while.

MikeMarch 7, 2019 at 8:13 pm ·

Look forward to it Henke, its been too long!

Southside BhoyMarch 6, 2019 at 8:04 pm ·

Caption
Bringiton Ringers “What do you think Lee?”
Congotown “Not even close to a Browny stauner”

Salad QueenMarch 6, 2019 at 8:48 pm ·

The joke was conn man glavin burns shops.

puggy67March 7, 2019 at 12:13 pm ·

aye – that wasn’t yesterday – my only other Celtic related joke is what’s the diffrence betwee Rolf Harris and Kenny Dalglish? They both have a beard except Kenny Dalglish. Nonce issues aside it was that weird jokes in the ealry 80s period. Punk’s fault I reckon.

MikeMarch 6, 2019 at 10:52 pm ·

As Gianni Infantino is shown around the Cove Sevco, Hewchter teuchter stadium, he asks Mcrae, where is your VAR set up, oh, its up yon pole your eminence. But is it switched on, oh no your eminence, it only goes on when the wind blaws in from the north. Is that right, aye that’s yon north pole…

Wee Ole knows what it takes brilliant tactics by the man in charge at man Utd.

MontiMarch 7, 2019 at 9:08 am ·

Jimmybee,
Was enjoyable watching Neymar scream & squirm from the touchline…..what’s all that fucking bling about?
Maybe he could sell it & give the proceeds to the families in the favela’s?

MontiMarch 7, 2019 at 9:09 am ·

Caption: ” Boerrigter’s agent on the line boss”

Charlie SaizMarch 7, 2019 at 9:52 am ·

Testicles testicles 1-2 1-2

WeeredMarch 7, 2019 at 2:50 pm ·

THATS BOLLOCKS

Charlie SaizMarch 7, 2019 at 7:19 pm ·

🙂

MikeMarch 7, 2019 at 10:30 am ·

Open, Transparent, Honest-ly The motto of the SFA.

Sat. 9th march Celtic via Aberdeen (bring your sheep shears) 3-0 pm kick off, what, that cannot be right.
Sunday 17th March Dundee (bonny) Via the champions of the world, 12.30 kick off, get your free jute bag as you enter enemy territory.
What that canny be right, there no Tories in Dundee.
Sunday 31st.March. Celtic via the smelly, League winning day, with a 12.00pm kick off. Hurra for the Tic.
Wednesday 3rd of April, St. Mirren away, kick off, wait for it, 19.45 pm, when the Paisley supporters get out of their scratchers.
Saturday 6th April, Celtic via Livingston. WhooHoo.
And then we do the splits.
On another note, Naisy looks glekitt as his injury looks set for him to miss the rest of the season, Whoop Whoop Whoop.

As EBT McLeish one of the Harlem Globe Trotter’s before he got his Jotters, circles like a Vulture over Lennoxtown casting his beady eye at our beloved players. (Beloved, I bless the day, I found you) where was I? oh yes, watching who’s training. He knows that his upcoming Scotland game’s to Kazakhstan (the other side of the world) on Thursday the 21st March and San Merino on Sunday the 24th March are on the horizon. Celtic play the Huns on Sunday 31st March, which will go a long way to wrapping up title number 8. But Lenny’s not daft, our international players have played a massive amount of games so far this season, perhaps why some of their injuries has occurred recently. He will judge who might be available and who needs more time to recover. The last thing that we need is more injured players… SFA 0.0.0. that’s not fit for purpose in braille…

They`re takin` the bricks from Brendan`s hoose and chippin` their name into them and layin` them on the Celtic Way.

Puggy67March 8, 2019 at 7:58 am ·

I always found Bob Malcolm hysterical.

MikeMarch 8, 2019 at 8:00 am ·

Where did it go? yesterday was January, tomorrow is June, what happened to those six months? life is a mad whirl and we are a tiny spectrum in the BIG picture. Thank God for giving us the Celtic, so that we can all enjoy one of life’s big pleasures.
Yesterday when I was born,
Feeling down and all forlorn,
I met a girl who lifted me,
Who made my life so complete,
Yesterday, when we were born… BTW thanks for those videos “the immigrants, for the cover alone, TWO people a tiny spectrum in life who gave us all so very much…